Happy to share this week’s Winners and Losers! What were the good, the bad and the ugly for the week?

Friday Feature on Deb’s World

Winners & Losers #9

Welcome to Week 9 of my weekly roundup, where I share some of the good, the bad and the ugly ‘stuff’ I’ve taken note of during the week. You are most welcome to join me in this quest each week by leaving me a comment with your own winners and losers!

Another great Monday quote – did you know I share a new quote each Monday on Instagram?

It is birthday time for my daughters, as all three have birthdays in a 5 week period. This quote goes out to each of them – they are all superheroes without a princess in sight! But then again, my sister asked if we can be both. I said we could especially as we’re living proof of that being the case!! Did you know I am called WonderWomanDebz?

No likes?

Following on from my story in last week’s Winners and Losers about digital addiction, it was interesting to see this story in the news. Instagram are trialling a ‘no likes’ version in Canada, in a test to see if you’ll feel less horrible about yourself! How do you feel about this?? Would it work do you think?

Instagram will test hiding the like count from photos, and view counts from videos, in an effort to get users to pay attention to the content itself and not their associated engagement metrics, the Facebook-owned app announced Tuesday.

Critics of social media companies have said that the public emphasis of such metrics as likes incentivises negative behaviour on platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, leading users to chase engagement to measure their self-worth.

I don’t think I use Instagram the right way, as I’m not into trying to portray a curated perfect life, or influencing anyone to buy something; I’m only there for the pretty pictures and to share snippets of an ordinary life of an ordinary mid-lifer. I quickly unfollow anyone who only posts repeated selfies or is purely narcissistic and shallow. Likes and follows are nice but don’t bother me overly much.

Update from my sister

I’m very happy to tell you that my sister Sharon is feeling much better now that her treatment has ended. Here’s her latest update in which she shares her thoughts and her amazing photography skills – not to mention good news about being a grandmother again for the umpteenth time 🙂

Running in the Mother’s Day Classic this year will have extra meaning for me! But I definitely won’t be breaking any land speed records or even a PB!

It’s a boy 🙂

I presume you have all heard the news of Harry and Meghan’s new baby boy. I must say I couldn’t help smiling at the way Harry announced the news – his joy was palpable. And the name is not what was expected – Archie Harrison – any thoughts?

A confession

I have a confession to make – I have never read Brene Brown or watched her Ted talks. I have heard of her quotes but until today I had never actually seen her. I heard a recommendation for her new Netflix show The Call to Courage, so finding a spare hour while I was doing the ironing (true story!) , I watched it. I must admit I wanted to dislike her for some reason, don’t ask me why, but I actually found her to be quite open, honest and funny as she shared stories and dispensed her wisdom.

I did pick something up about being vulnerable which made complete sense. By putting ourselves out there we are being vulnerable and I can see that as bloggers we are sharing our vulnerability and being brave.

Caption this photo

This was a very cute and very Australian photo of a koala and a kookaburra, shared on the ABC Australia Facebook page, and they were asking for captions! Some of them are so funny 🙂

What colours do you see?

What colour are these shoes?

These shoes started a bit of a ‘discussion’ amongst my family this week. Apparently it’s the latest in the ‘right brain sees this colour’, ‘left brain sees this colour’ image. It sparked quite intense discussions as each person could only see ‘their’ colour – which is either grey/green or pink/white. Remember a few years ago there was a dress which had everyone up in arms?? Just out of interest what colour do you see?

Now that’s a knife!

Now that’s a knife!!

Trust me!

A haircut with a difference in the jungle.

You may not know that the Mathematician has just returned from walking the Kokoda Track with high school students as one of the leaders of our Rotary Club’s Tumba2Kokoda Youth program. It was his 8th time since his first trek in 2007.

Well, every year he walks, he allows the students to design a special hair-do for him and this year they shaved his head and left a ‘tuft’ on top. Halfway along the trek he decided it needed to go and so had Isaac, one of the leaders, cut it off with his larger than life knife!! Joel, another leader, will store the tuft of hair back in the village, until Grant returns again in 2 years time!! Just one of the many stories that have emerged so far from their life changing trek. Did you see the post I wrote about getting mail in the jungle?

Politics free zone!

You might have noticed that this week’s edition is a politics free edition – that’s not a coincidence!! I’m over it 😦

Mother’s Day 🙂

It’s Mother’s Day here in Australia on Sunday 12 May and it will be my first as a grandmother. I saw this post in a Facebook group and loved it so much I’m sharing the link here so you too can enjoy reading it. Thanks to Alice for her lovely words which made me smile – here’s a snippet from her post 🙂

I’ll bet another reason that today’s grandmothers go for less traditional grandmother names is that they don’t act or look very, well, traditionally grandmotheresque. Sure, these GaGas and Bamas do traditional grandmother things like sing songs and play games and make cookies (or some of them do). But they also go skiing in Aspen and hiking in Nepal and to tennis camp in Hawaii. And they certainly don’t dress like traditional grandmothers. Take housedresses (please). Both my grandmothers wore them exclusively, usually accessorized with an apron, support hose and orthopedic shoes.

By Alice Henry Whitmore, a/k/a Lutheran Liar

When Mothers turn Grand

Here’s a photo of my little granddaughter which will make your heart melt 🙂 (Photo taken and kind permission given for its use by my daughter and son-in-law)

My nearly 8 month old granddaughter Emilia is just adorable

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers, grandmothers and special people out there.

Do you have any thoughts on any of these winners or losers for the week?

If you missed earlier posts in my Friday Feature you can find them here:

Yes that was me!!! She’s too big for the tights now sadly! She is adorable and I’m lucky to have spent Mother’s Day with her and my daughter.
Yes grey and green shoes seem to be the go, it’s what I see too.

I like what I’m hearing about Facebook and Instagram removing the ‘like’ button. Although I’m no longer on either platform, I think what they are trailing is a good idea. I did remove the ‘like’ button from my blog for a time and ended up getting quite a few complaints that it was gone. When some readers told me that they do not necessarily read the post but still press ‘like’, it got me thinking of how silly having a ‘like’ button was. I would have kept it that way, but removing the ‘like’ button also meant the ‘reblog’ button was removed (as they are connected). I hope WordPress does eventually remove it.

I remember you removing the like button Hugh and the feedback was so interesting! I will only use it to indicate I have read the post and actually liked it 🙂 I didn’t know it was connected to the reblog button though, so thanks for that information. Thanks for your Mother’s Day message, I had a lovely time and ran like the wind 🙂

I had no idea they were connected either, Debbie. WordPress could not give me a reason why they were connected so I decided to reinstall the ‘like’ button so that my posts could also be reblogged (after all, most of us want our posts to be shared and enjoyed by others). I take little notice of the ‘like’ button now, although I do still press it, only for the same reasons you also gave.

I can’t imagine that anyone could see anything other than gray/green shoes, but apparently they do. How weird Is that? I remember reading that Instagram was a big “social media” site. And here I thought it was a site to share and see pretty pictures on… silly me. Your granddaughter is adorable! I’m so glad you got permission to share her picture.

We think the same way Janis!! How can the shoes be pink/white, Instagram isn’t just for pretty pictures???? and yes Emilia is adorable. I have to get permission to share any photos so have to make it count 🙂

Good luck in the Mothers Day run, hope the weathers good and its not too tough. Love these winners and losers posts, so interesting. Not bothered about Instagram likes at all and pleased for Prince Harry.

Lovely to hear your thoughts Jonno, thanks so much for joining in! I hope it’s not too cold for the run on Sunday (it’s snowing over on the mountains as we speak) but I’ll soon warm up if it is I suppose 😊 Instagram changes don’t worry me too much either I must admit but somehow I don’t think I’m their target audience. I love a new baby so I’m happy too 😊 thanks again for your comment. Enjoy the weekend.

Lots of news this week Deb – I just posted a great Meghan/Harry/baby video on my crestingthehill FB page if you want to check it out for a smile. I’m still recovering from the “Archie” choice – what were they thinking?? Loved your grandbaby pic and I’m glad you’re getting into the Brene fan club – I love her stuff!

I just saw that Leanne, very funny 🙂 I was very lucky to get permission to share it so am thrilled everyone can see for themselves how gorgeous she is. She’s growing up too quickly!! I am enjoying Brene, and think she has a lot to offer.

I am in the grey/green camp on the shoes and am sure you could not resist posting that adorable pic of your granddaughter – glad you were granted permission! Thank’s for keeping politics free… I was over it before it started.

Those colours indicates left brain thinking Albert! I’m in that camp too. I am so happy to have been given permission to use that photo, it’s so heart meltingly cute. It’s a different world these days with children’s photos on social media and there’s a lot to consider. I can understand it all though. Politics is so uninspiring at the moment isn’t it??

I am glad to hear that you think even one side of my brain is thinking! I run into the issue of even taking photographs with children in them these days, in Australia and other Western countries. My next review coming tonight or more likely tomorrow now includes multiple photos of children’s play areas … all childless – as they were taken on an early morning walk. Had I walked later in the day I would not have felt comfortable taking any photos as sadly it is assumed that any older man (particularly if alone) anywhere near kids nowadays is up to no good… a sad reflection on society but one I have to live with. So I rarely get to the stage of even having to consider if it is appropriate to place photos of kids on the net or not – a slightly different consideration. Don’t get me started on politics…

our family had a similar discussion about the shoe too. My daughter and I saw green and blue whilst my husband and son saw pink and white. Funny isn’t it, we automatically assume everyone sees the same as we do! Interesting 😉

As always a great read. Good news re your sister too! I also haven’t seen the Brene Brown talk but have downloaded to my ipad to watch when I’m on the flight to Sydney on Sunday. I use Instagram in the same way that you do, although have done a separate account just for my reading, writing & baking posts which links to my author page on Facebook. I’m not dictated to by likes, but I do look at them once a month to see just what people did, well, like. I like to “like” someone’s pic to let them know I’ve been by & if I like the pic. What worries me is that by removing the visibility of “likes” it will put more pressure on people to use comments & drive the algorithms that way which will, in turn, turn it into a clone of Facebook.

I know exactly what you mean Jo, it’s a fickle fast paced world out there. I ‘like’ posts the same as you, if I’ve enjoyed the shot I like it! Let me know what you think of the Brene show once you’ve watched it, I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts as a newbie too.

Loving your weekly posts Deb, such a great wrap up. So glad to hear that Sharon’s doing better and your grand daughter is simply adorable. As for Instagram, I think it’s a good idea to remove the likes and numbers, not that it makes any difference to me. By the way I saw green and grey in that shoe, whatever that means. Have a fabulous day on Sunday Deb. Sending lots of love xx 😊

Hi Miriam, thanks so much for your kind comment and feedback!! The green and grey means you are a left brain person. I agree Instagram isn’t a deal breaker for me I just like seeing pictures from people I follow around the world. But some propel take it way too far!!
I’m happy with Sharon’s updates and it was great to see her looking so well at Easter.
I know, I think Emilia is the most adorable baby ever, but I am probably biased!!
Wishing you a lovely day on Sunday and lots of happiness! xx

Just beautiful Deb. The whole post has made my morning and brought a warm feeling and smile. You are so talented in your writing and just want you to know how much I enjoy your blog. Have a beautiful Mother’s Day Run and I’ll be thinking of you as I run with Rachel. Great news about Sharon and sending her a big hug. I saw pink/white in the shoe so not sure what that means. That photo of the Koala and Kookaburra is just too cute. Have a great weekend and look forward to next Friday’s edition. xx

You are so kind Sue, I really value your feedback as you know 🙂 I’ll think of you and Rachel on Sunday too. Pink/white means you are more right brain oriented. So glad you enjoy the variety in my Friday posts, it’s fun sharing 🙂

Yes I see the same colours -apparently that indicates left brain! I totally agree Emilia is very cute ❤️
So much to do so little time!! I can relate to that. What fun to spend time with your nephews though 😊. Thanks so much for joining in Ritu, I love hearing your winners and losers from across the world.

Thanks for the mention Deb. I think I’m going to have to write another update – it seems that cording and scar tissue pain isn’t something we get told a lot about, but they can sure cause pain. One of my winners for the week has been an oncology massage. Didn’t know it was a thing … but I now know it’s a good thing!

That’s great to hear you’ve discovered oncology massage, is lymphatic massage something different again? That was a recommendation I heard as well. I’ve never heard of cording and scar tissue pain so yes you need to write about that.

I agree, Emilia is such a lovely little girl but she’s growing up too fast!!

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This is me!

Travelling is in my family's blood and since being forced into an early retirement (due to a redundancy) I'm making the most of my 'spare time'. Along with travel, Rotary, running, cycling, reading, photography and social media, I love to blog. The community network, continually learning new skills, and sharing ideas is a source of great joy. Other things that make me happy are my husband, our three grown up daughters and family. I now have two new granddaughters, plus a new grandson.
Taking pleasure in the everyday beauty around us is essential to a happy life - take time to smell the roses! It costs nothing to smile :)